Hook.



No. 680,005. Patented Aug. 6, I901.

P. B. soumwonm.

HOOK.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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I UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

PRESTON B. SOUTHWORTH, OF MAYVILLE, OREGON.

HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,005, dated August 6, 1901.

Application filed April 29, 1901.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PRESTON B. SOUTH- WORTH, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Mayville, in the county of Gilliam and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hooks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference' being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica-v tion.

This invention relates to an improvement in hooks, and it is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts presently to be described, and defined in the claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a hook which may be employed for hitching purposes and which may be readily operated, but which will retain the ring or eye against accidental removal.

With this end in view the invention consists, generally speaking, in that typeof hook wherein two hooked portions are arranged in opposite directions and overlap, their ends being so positioned to prevent the escape of the ring or eye.

In the drawings I have shown one form of device embodying the invention, but desire it understood that other forms can be made and the hook arranged difierently without departing from the general nature and principle of the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an edge view, and Fig. 3 is a view looking at the end of the hook.

A represents a shank portion to which the attaching-loop B is secured. From the'shank portion extend two spring-arms C and O, the same diverging in opposite directions and extending outward from the shank in longitudinal planes. The end of each arm is somewhat enlarged or thickened and is curved transversely toward the opposite arm to form the hook portion D, which portion gradually decreases in thickness toward the end, as shown in Fig. 3. The opposite hook is fastened in a like manner, and the parts are so arranged that they lie in close contact, formed by the reduction of the thickness of the ma- Serial No. 58,061. (No model.)

terial and forminga substantially smooth surface at the point of the hooks.

To insert the ring between the hooks, it is necessary to force the latter apart and slip the ring in between, somewhat on the order of a key-ring, and this, as will be appreciated, is highly objectionable, owing to the fact that it is difficult to separate the two hooks and at the same time to insert the ring. To overcome this objection, I form on each hook at or adjacent its base upwardly extending prongs or lugs E, and owing to the opposite arrangement of the hooks these lugs will be,

as shown, oppositely arranged, thus leaving When it is do a space between the same. sirable to force the ring between the hooks, his only necessary to force the same first be tween the lugs, and then by twisting the device slightly the ring forces the hooks apart, opening the space between, into which it may readily slip and then be secured. In the act of unhooking a similar pressure is brought to bear on the arms.

It is to be understood that the spring of the arms is so set that the hooked ends at all times lie close together, and owing to the overlapping arrangement of the hooks a practically-closed link is formed.

I have shown a fiat-metal construction; but it is to be understood that other forms can be employed, such as heavy steel wire.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is--- A hook of the character described comprisin g a shank portion, overlapping spring=hooks extending therefrom and adapted to be sprung apart perpendicularly to their plane, and outwardly-extendin g shoulders projecting in parallelism from each hook, said shoulders forming between them an intervening space into which a ring maybe inserted perpendicularly to the plane of the hooks, said shoulders adapted to be engaged by the ring, and to force the hooks apart, when the ring is turned to the plane of the hooks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PRESTON B. SOUTHWORTH.

Witnesses:

J. 0. JARVIS, L. E. HOFFMAN. 

